Raleiith Cops Seeking Arsonist After
, .<-«
LruiOTinr^^-y
Fire Guts Apollo Center
★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ Damage
Nation's Blacks, Women Stunned-Tex. Ren.
Barbara Jordan To Quit»io,ooo
RAlt^iffh FirA npr\ar
The Carol
AP0LI,0 HEIGHTS COMMl'MTY ( ENTER Bl RNS - Shown above is (he gutted remains of
the Apollo Heights Community Center, located on Lunar Drive, which was destroyed by a
mysterious fire earlv Sunday. Firemen suspect arson. See story. (Staff Photo).
Hiring Bias Seen
At Plant In Wake
A manuiacturing plant at
Wake Forest in northern Wake
Countv and the union repre
senting its employees, have
discriminated against black
workers since 1965, according
to a lawsuit tiled bv a tederal
agencv here Thursday.
The U. S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
charged that (he Scovil Manu
facturing Company Plant and
the International Union ot
Electrical, Radio and Machine
Workers. AFL-CIO, have been
violating tederal laws in their
practices ot employment.
The EEOC contends in the
lawsuit, tiled in tederal court
here, that both the company
and the union have engaged in
at least three illegal practices.
They are:
Maintaining job categories
andclassiiicalions which parti
ally or totally are racially
segregated to the disadvantage
ot black persons; maintain
hiring policies and practices
that discriminate against
blacks because ot race; and
tailing and refusing to compen
sate blacks on an equal basis
with white employees
North Carolina's Leadinff Weekly
VOL 37 NO, 6 FtALElGH, N.C.. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15,1977 SINGLE COPY 20c
Husband Slain In ''Bull City"
Murder Trial Ele^ns
★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★
Ms. Little*s Boyfriend
Criticizes Dr. D. Lane
Renters Complain
National Black News Service
WASHINGTON. D. C. - De
teriorating urban housing and
a new sensitivity to tenants'
rights have produced great
increases in local court housing
cases, the American Bar
Association's Special Commit
tee on Housing and Urban
Development Law said recent
ly
In a study ot housing courts,
(he committee said .serious
problems include delay in
getting to trial, inability to
secure legal assistance and
judges who lack 7'itiicien(
expertise in housing matters.
The study has not been
considered bv the AB.A's House
ot Delegate and thus is not
otticial Association policy, an
ABA release said
in response to this nation
wide jerrybuiU structure oi
housing justice, several major
cities, including New York,
Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit
and BaUimore. have unified
and rationalized their court
systems to proauce a new type
01 court; a Housing Court,"
said committee chairman
Laughlin E. Waters.
The 36-page report, “Urban
Housing Courts and Landlord
Tenant Justice: .National Mo
dels and Experience," tocuses
on housing courts in Boston.
Pittsburg and New York City.
Free copies oi the report are
available bv writing to Kate
SulL.-an, ABA. 1800 M. Street,
N, W,. Washington, D. C. 20036,
.NAACP TO MEKT
The Kaleigh-Apex
Chapter of the NAACP
will meet Sundav. Dec.
I«, at RICH Park in
•Method at 3;;!0 p.in.
The topic of discussion
will be Pood Stamps
and other important
issues. The public is
invited to attend.
Tne Rev. Dr. Charles
W. Ward is president of
the chapter
'IKS. (ill.l. .\ Kins-' kok
COrNTY — Mrs. Rosa I'nder-
wtMMi Gill of Raleigh, last week
became (he first black woman
ever to serve on the Wake
County Board of Elections,
when she was sworn into office
here, along with others. ,\
native of (he .Apex area of
V\ake (ounty. Airs. Gill is
married to Jimmie flill and
they are the narents of tw«»
(See MRS. GILL, P 2-
Woman Is
Convicted
Of Neglect
Mrs. Susan Denise Lee, 604‘-.;
Parnell Street. (On Poole
Road), pleaded guilty last
Thursday to child neglect m the
drowning death ot her voung
son in August ot this year.
The woman's attorney, Rtib-
er» Casev. and .Vs Jane
Garvov. assistant district at
torney, worked out a sentence
that was accepted bv presiding
District Court Judge John
Parker.
Mrs. Lee received a six-
month jail term, which was
(See IS CONVICTED. P. 2)
Carter*s Urban Plan Blasted
National Black News Service
SAN FRANCISCO. Calif. — Branding President Carter's upcoming
urban program as -a half-hearted gesture in a situation which calls for
an all-out assault," Jerry Wurf, president of the American Federation of
SUte, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has called on the
National League of Cities to join the Union in an allied demand for "urban
programs which n.atch our enormous problems with old and effective
solutions of equal scope and weight.”
As president of the largest public employee union in America. Wurf told
the league's conference in San Francisco recentiv that urban public
officials and urban public workers must strike an alliance against
"underfunded” and "misguided” White House proposals.
Wurf also said that issues of public worker produetivitv. effective
public management, and contract negotiation procedures must be settled
“reasonably" with concessions on both sides. "We are hopeful that
reasonableness and respect for our common interests can override con-
frontation at the polls or on the picket line."
1^3.4 Million Defense Department
Contract Goes To Minority Firm
National Black News Service
WASHINGTON. D. C. The
Department ot Deiense recent
ly announced the awarding oi a
$3.4 million deiense contract to
a minoritv^wned tirm. It was
one 01 the largest contracts
ever awarded to such a firm.
The contract was awarded to
the Small Business Adminis
tration under Section 8 (a) ot
the Small Business Act and,
was in turn, awarded to
Technology Development
Corp. ot Sunnyvale. Calit. The
contract is tor F-16 research
and development and related
technical services.
Technology Development
Corporation was termed in 1971
as a high-technology iirm,
dedicated to research and
engineering. It is twc-thirds
minority-owned and its presi
dent. Dr. Frank S. Greene, is a
black Ph. D.
Dr. Greene represented his
company at the signing cere
mony in (he Pentagon, while
the Deputy Secretary ot De-
(See DEFENSE DEPT., P. 2)
Dentist
Replies
ToClaims
BVt ll.VRl.KSK. JO.NK.-
Vernell Nelson .Mu
hammad, 23-year-old
boyfriend of escaped
Raleigh prison fugitive,
iMs, JpAnne Little, also
23, said in an interview
last Friday that, "Dr.
David P. l.ane has said
something to the effect
that I was a bad influ
ence on JoAnne. I leel
that Dr. Lane owes me
an apology for this. Jo
Anne does no! feel that I
am a bad influence on
her and I don't think Dr.
Lane is in a positimi to
make a statement(to*
kind." '
Dr. Lane is ihe black Raleigh
dentist, with oiiices in the 100
block Oi E Hargett SI., who
hired .Ms. Little as a dental
assistant last spring when she
became eligible tor work-re-
lease and no one else would
hire her.
When contacted about .Mu
hammad's statements about
him on Tuesday ot this week,
Dr. Lane said, "I met him
(See MS. LITTLE’S, P. 2)
GirU 7,
Struck By
Car Here
Tonya Renee Pearson, 7,1204
Seabrook Drive in Kingwood
Forest, received minor bruises
when she was struck by an
automobile alter alighting
trom a school bus in tront ot
her home here last weekend,
according to police reports.
The child was hit bv a car
driven by Bobby Lee Dockery,
29, 1313 Savannah Drive, also
in Kingwood Forest, about 3:45
p.m, Thursday, Otiicer R. H.
Phillips reported. A student at
Brooks Elementary School
here, the little girl did not
require hospitalization and no
charges were tiled against
Dockery, Phillips reported.
According to E>ockerv and
other eyewitnesses, the child
darted trom behind one ot two
school buses that had stopped
to discharge student passeng
ers at the intersection oi
Daytona and Seabrook Drives.
The girl then walked into the
path ot Dockery's moving car,
they stated.
Neither ot the two stopped
buses had their “STOP" arms
out nor their emergency
signals tla.shing as they let the
students oit the buses.
Oilicer Phillips said the
reason that he did not charge
Mr. Dockery was that Dockery
was unable to see the two buses
until he was too close to stop as
they were obscured bv the
crest ot a hill. “Since Seabrook
Drive has nu speed limit
posted, I have to assume that it
is 35 mile per hour," concluded
the cop.
.MS. LITTLE'S BOYFRIEND INTERVIEWED — Vernell
Nelson Muhammad, boyfriend of .Ms. Jo.Anne l.itlle. is shown at
left being interviewed last Friday by Charles R. Jone^.
managing editor of TheCAROLl.Nl.AN. Muhammad flew to New
York to meet Ms. IJttle last week, hut was uusuecessful In his
bid to per.suade her to return with him to Raleigh. (Staff Photo)
Rep. Jordan Won’t
Seek AnotherTerm
HOUSTON, Texas—The most powerful black
woman ever to be elected to a seat in the United
States Congress will not seek re-election when her
term expires in 1978 because, "1 don’t want to wake
up one fine morning and say there is nothing else in
the world that Barbara Jordan can do/’
Rep. Jordan, D-Tezas, an- movement, but rahter has been
nounced at a press conterence
last Saturday that she would
not seek any elective oitice in
1978, when ner term ot oitice
expires.
Rep. Jordan said: '*For
reasons predicated totally on
my internal compass, directing
me to direct mv energy to
something ditterent and move
away trom the demands which
are all-consuming. I shall not
seek elective oitice in 1978."
Ms. Jordan, 41, became the
tirst black congresswoman
trom the Deep South when she
was tirst elected in 1972.
However, she has never closely
aligned herseli with the Con
gressional Black Caucus or
elements oi the women's
Birthday
Observance
Announced
ATLANTA, Ga. — A live-day
observance, trom January
12-16, 1978. ot the birthday ot
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
has been announced bv Mrs.
Coretta Scott King, president
ot (he Martin Luther King, Jr.
Onter tor Social Change. Dr.
King would have been 49 years
old on January 15.
Appreciation
Check Won By
\Mllie Dunn
Willie R. Dunn, ot 207 Bart
St., was winner oi $10 last week
alter he reported to The
CAROLINIAN oilice that he
had tound his name listed in the
Cap'n Jim’s Seatood advertise-
(See APPRECIATION. P. 2)
considered highly experi
enced behind-the-scenes politi
cal activist in the nation's
capitol.
Her name has been mention
ed as a possibility tor many
positions, including the Texas
Senate and the United States
Supreme Court.
Ms. Jordan said Saturday.
“What course I shall pursue in
1978 when my current term ot
oitice expires, I do not know,
whether in the public or private
sector, I do not know."
Ms. Jordan also said she
believes that “there is an
inverse relationship between
duration ot tenure in the
Congress and the ability to
shift gears,“ explaining that
“the longer you stay, in
0}ngres5. the more diiiictilt it
is to leave Congress."
Ms. Jordan tirst captured
national attention in 1974
during her treshman term hv
participating in the House
Judiciary Committee’s televls-
(See REP. JORDAN. P. 2)
Widow,
Roomer
On Trial
DURHAM - Echoes
from a recent trial held
in Raleigh were heard in
the Durham County
Superior Court Monday,
December 12, when 10
jurors were selected to
near evidence that the
state hopes will convict
Mrs. Thelma Pretty and
her roomer, Douglas Lee
Cameron, on a second
degree murder charge in
the pistol death of the
woman's husband.
Aaron Samuel Pretty, on
Sept. 20.
Mr Pretty shewed no sign
ot omolion as she walked into
the coMciroom Monday morn
ing. She appeared with many oi
her neighbors who are expect
ed to testily tor the state.
Cameron, who was not able to
raise a $10,000 bond, has
remained in jail.
Detense lawyers attempted
to build their cases on the
thoory that their clienta would
not take the stand and, in so
doing, would not give the state
an opportunity to question the
defendants.
Jerry Clayton, who repre
sents Mrs. ^ettv, along with
his law partner, Robert My-
rick, quizzed prospective jur
ors thoroughly on their atti
tudes about a deiendant’s right
not to testily.
Bill Graham, who was
retained to represent Cameron
stressed the state’s burden in
proving its case: "Mr. Step
hens has got to put a weapon in
a hand with an intent to kill,”
he said.
"He’s got to make 50 points
in his inning” and it he didn’t,
Graham said, the detense
doesn't have to play at all.
“Do you understand," he
asked, “that you might not be
able to figure out the truth in
this case at all? I suggest to
you it that occurs, it ought to
raise a reasonable doubt about
the guilt 01 these two and they
deserve to be acquitted."
It no evidence is presented on
behalt ot (he deiendants, their
attorneys could elect to make
both the first and last closing
arguments to the jury, sand
wiching Stephens in between.
Raleigh Fire Depart
ment administrator,
Kenneth Farmer, stated
Monday that the fire
which gutted the Apollo
Heights Community
Center early Sunday was
deliberately set. Investi-
§ ators say they found a
iscarded can of brake
fluid outside the build
ing, near where the blaze
began. Brake fluid,
containing a high
content of alcohol, is
highly flammable.
The State Bureau ot Investi
gation (SSI) has heen handed
sections ot the center’s ro(U
and the fluid can tor turther
tests.
According to liremen, the
(lames which engulied the
wooden-rooted building, start
ed alter an explosion that
blew ott a portion ot the back
wall and the root ot the center,
located at 759 Lunar Drive.
Cause Oi the explosion remain
ed a mystery at C.AROLINIAN
press time.
(See FIRE GUTS. P. 2)
KNIGHT LOSES COUN-
CIL'S COMMITTEE CHAIR
MANSHIP - Raleigh City
Councilmun William Rogers
(Bill) Knight, above, was
bypassed Tuesday. .Dec. 13. by
Raleigh's new mayor. Mrs.
Isabella W. Cannon, who
appointed Mrs. Miriam P.
Block to head the powerful
Law and Finance Committee
on the council. Knight was
named to head this committee
two years ago by former
mayor Jyles J. Co^ns. who
was defeated on No%. 8 by Mrs.
Cannon for the mayoral poat.
Knight, the only black member
of the Raleigh City Cooncll, b
in his third term as It Mrs.
Block.
Dr. King
To Keynote
Carver Wk.
PITTSBURGH. Pa. - The
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Sr., lather ot the late Dr.
Bdartin Luther King, Jr., will
be the featured speaker at a
January 6, 1978 luncheon,
highlighting (Seorge Washing
ton (Carver Week January 1-8.
Other special events during the
week include a jazz concert,
photo exhivit and a numbo* ot
activities in Pittsburgh
schools.
The Rev. Dr. King, who will
speak at noon Jan. 6 at the
William Penn Hotel, is pastor-
emeritus 01 the Ebenezer
Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga.,
president oi the Martin Luther,
King, Jr. (Center tor Social
Change and a board member ot
the Southern Christian Leader
ship Conference. He will be
introduced by Jayne Spain,
senior vice president, Gulf Oil
Corporation, who is general
chairperson ot Carver Week.
FIRST L.\DY GREETED BY KX( ITED ( HILDKEN — New York - Hundreds ot exulted New
York school children anxiousl> await (he chance (u shake hands with lirsi lu(i> ItosalMin < arter as
she tours a Harlem school to spotlight volunteer nrighlmrhiMHl projects De<'. 12. (1 1*1)
Appreciation Money
SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK
HUDSON-BELK DEPT.
STORES
"WHERE VARIETY AND ECONOMY GO HAND-INHAND"
DISPLAYS DANCKROUS PIPE BOMB - BeMaire. Mich. - Charles Quander special aaent
with the Bureau of Alcohol. Tax and Firearms oivislon, displays a pipe bomb similar to those
seized bv agents in a raid here last Thursday night. The seizure of 100 of the bombs has been
desvTibed by agents as the largest of its kind ever made in (he L'.S. Arrested were Octavio Gomez
and Lee Alen Omiand. both of BeMaire. (I’PI)